October 30, 2025 – Bob – KA4PKB is still in Iowa tending to the harvest. He explained some of the logistics involved in getting the corn from the stalk to the elevator. Storage in that area of eastern Iowa is about full. Some are piling corn outside now. Richard – WA4IWD provided a radon report today from Opelika of 0.67 pCi/L. This is about the same as last week and Bob – KD4PK stated that we will be okay. John – NK4N indicated that the bears in Tennessee near the park are quiet for now, ostensibly taking advantage of the good acorn crop. The elk provide the most interesting appearances nowadays. Dayne – K8CHY recently passed his Extra exam. This was 69 years ago almost to the day from completion of his General.  Congratulations Dayne!

October 23, 2025 – Gail – KB4JAA has returned from their trip to North Carolina. She reports a good trip, but she also said many winding roads were traveled in the process. Richard – WA4IWD reports a radon level of 0.67 pCi/L in Opelika. Bob – KD4PK responded that he believes we will be safe for now. Bob – KA4PKB reports that the corn and soybeans are essentially all in the bin in Iowa now. The fall has been quite dry there. He also mentioned that Frankie Thomas III (son of MLB Hall of Fame member Frank Thomas) has committed to play baseball at Auburn. This is music to our ears as we fondly remember his fathers considerable contributions to the Auburn team some years ago. John – NK4N let us know that the bears are only infrequently seen nowadays in his area since they are concentrating on the heavy acorn crop. Not much more to report. Bob – KA4PKB promised to send us information on how 3-phase electrical can be created from a two phase supply. Remember the Montgomery Hamfest is November 8, 2025.

October 16, 2025 – Dayne – K8CHY mentioned the Free DV software he uses. Several of the members are keen to investigate how this might improve their HF audio. As in most conversations in the Southeast since this past weekend, the conversation briefly turned to college sports officiating. The consensus is that these folks aren’t paid enough to put up with the grief they face. HF band openings in the past few days were reported to be quite good, especially in the 6m and 10m bands. In particular, an operator in Niue (south of American Somoa) was heard. The conversation turned to astronomy, specifically the Andromeda galaxy. This galaxy is faintly visible in the northwest sky by using one of the two methods mentioned by Deborah Byrd in her fine article in EARTHSKY dated August 2, 2024. For the physics lovers, Bob – KD4PK mentioned the work of Sabine Hossenfelder which is accessible in the media.

October 9, 2025 – John – NK4N reports that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has reopened on a limited basis, even though the federal government is shut down.  John reports no bear activity around his home, and that he has picked his muscadines thus the bears will not be into those. Who uses an Isotron antenna?  Mike – KI4TWB brought the topic up.  These are single band antennas. Radon level in Opelika 0.64 pCi/L. Bob Kribel – KD4PK reminds us of the upcoming Orionid meteor shower to be visible on October 20th and 21st. Also, two comets will be visible at the same time this month. We recalled the song “Stars Fell on Alabama” popularized in the 1930’s.  We understand that the song is associated with the particularly spectacular Lenoid meteor shower which occurred in 1833.

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